U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Confirmed A total of 302,034 encounters were recorded on the country's southern border in December 2023, it said.
Border Patrol recorded that 249,785 of them were between border ports of entry.fox news first reported About the encounter in early January, before the Biden administration confirmed record numbers.
Troy A. Miller, a senior CBP official, said in a statement Friday that agents continue to enforce immigration laws at and between ports of entry and work with Mexico along the shared border.
“CBP continues to use all of its resources to ensure the safety and security of our nation's agents, personnel, and immigrants who are often misunderstood and victimized by transnational criminal organizations,” Miller said in a statement. “However, as we have repeatedly said, CBP and our federal partners need additional support from Congress so we can continue to impact those who do not take advantage of established legal channels. Masu.”
CBP said encounters with migrants fell by 50% in the first two weeks of January, which is consistent with “historic trends and increased enforcement.”
The numbers were released while Congress is still negotiating a key border deal that it has been working on for months. Former President Trump sought to override an ongoing border deal to block President Biden's congressional victory over a controversial surge in immigration and border security.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are unhappy with the effort, saying it would hold up aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The record numbers come after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) defied a Supreme Court order to remove razor wire barriers along the state's border with Mexico. This was achieved at the same time as there was conflict between them.
The ruling came after state law enforcement blocked Border Patrol agents from entering a riverside park in Eagle Pass, Texas, a crossing point for migrants. Three migrants, a woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande just outside the park. Border Patrol officials claimed the Texas National Guard blocked attempts to rescue people.
According to CBP, there were 386 rescues in December, bringing the total for all of 2023 to 1,362.
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